The Division of Labour, Worker Organisation, and Technological Change

Lex Borghans and Bas ter Weel

No 1709, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA)

Abstract: The model developed in this paper explains differences in the division of labour across firms as a result of computer technology adoption. We find that changes in the division of labour can result both from reduced production time and from improved communication possibilities. The first shifts the division of labour towards a more generic structure, while the latter enhances specialisation. Although there exists heterogeneity, our estimates for a representative sample of Dutch establishments in the period 1990-1996 suggest that productivity gains have been the main determinant for shifts in the division of labour within most firms. These productivity gains have induced skill upgrading, while in firms gaining mainly from improved communication possibilities specialisation increased and skill requirements have fallen.

Keywords: division of labour; wage level and structure; technological change; computerisation of the labour market (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J31 O15 O33 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-bec, nep-eff, nep-ino and nep-lab
Date: Written
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Related works:
Working Paper: The Division of Labour, Worker Organisation, and Technological Change (2005)
Working Paper: The Division of Labour, Worker Organisation, and Technological Change (2005)
Journal Article: The Division of Labour, Worker Organisation, and Technological Change (2006)
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